Life stories

Don José locked in his house, when ALAS first met him

José

Don José was taken by the army 25 years ago, while he walked in the street. He was held for three days, threatened with torture. He witnessed horrible things (fear and sadness are evident when he tells his story). He was then release but since that moment, he began to feel an intense fear of being caught again; every time he left his home he felt he was being followed.

A few months later, the symptoms worsened; every time he left his house, he “froze” (describing classic panic attacks), and if he saw anyone from the army he would suffer episodes of “reliving” the kidnapping and would run to hide in his home. He was also unable to sleep because he had constant dreams related to he event. Because of this and to avoid the attacks, he isolated himself in his house, getting to the point in which it had been 20 years since he left his house at all.

ALAS provided Don José with group therapies, anti-depressant and anxiolytic drugs during over 4 years. Don José is now able to go out of his house again, although only when he is accompanied by his wife. He joins a monthly group therapy where he participates actively to social, religious and cultural activities. He also became an ambassador of ALAS when he went to Guatemala City to tell his story to hundreds of people on the International Mental Health Day.

Don José telling his story during the International Mental Health Day in Guatemala City